Alcohol Dependence

Alcohol dependence or alcoholism involves the self-destructive and dangerous abuse of alcohol. Treatment is available to help people with alcoholism stop drinking alcohol.

Alcohol Dependence Overview

Reviewed: May 8, 2014

Updated: August 11, 2015

Alcohol use disorder is the repeat and chronic abuse of alcohol. Alcohol use may be dangerous or self-destructive to yourself or those around you. Alcohol dependence (also called alcoholism) is alcohol use disorder in which patients also experience tolerance and withdrawal related to alcohol use.

People of all ages, life stages, and socioeconomic strata can be affected by alcoholism. A combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors likely contributes to and increases the risk of alcoholism.

Alcoholism can be treated, but there is no cure. It is a long-term disease that people must learn to manage. Most treatment plans for alcoholism involve behavioral changes, cognitive therapy, and rehabilitation programs. Most people who have a history of alcoholism need to stop using alcohol completely.

Alcohol Dependence Symptoms

The hallmark symptom of alcoholism is the inability to stop or limit the use of alcohol.

You may also experience the following symptoms:

You drink more or longer than you planned to

You have wanted to, or tried to, cut down or stop drinking, but could not

You spend a lot of time and effort to get alcohol, use it, or recover from its effects

You crave alcohol or have a strong urge to use it

Alcohol use is causing you to miss work or school, or you do not perform as well because of drinking

You continue to drink, even when relationships with family and friends are being harmed

You stop taking part in activities that you used to enjoy

While or after drinking, you get into situations that can cause you to get hurt, such as driving, using machinery, or having unsafe sex

You keep drinking, even though you know it is making a health problem caused by alcohol worse

You need more and more alcohol to feel its effects or to get drunk (also known as tolerance)

You get withdrawal symptoms when the effects of alcohol wear off, such as anxiety or jumpiness; shakiness or trembling; sweating, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, depression, irritability, fatigue or loss of appetite and headaches

See your doctor or health care provider if you think you have an alcohol use disorder or alcoholism.

Alcohol Dependence Causes

There are no specific causes of alcohol use disorder or alcohol dependence. A combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors likely contributes to and increases the risk of alcoholism. There is no way to accurately predict who will become dependent on the use of alcohol.

Living With Alcohol Dependence

Living with alcoholism is difficult and can be debilitating. Daily activities and relationships are negatively affected. However, help is available for the person suffering from alcoholism and the families. Many support services and organizations, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, can help people live with and manage alcoholism. Living with and overcoming alocoholism is easier with encouragement, comfort, and guidance.

Alcohol Dependence Treatments

Alcoholism is treatable, though there is no cure. It is a life-long disease that requires consistent management to prevent relapses to unhealthy behaviors or new addictions. Most people seek treatment for alcoholism because a court ordered them to do so or family members encouraged them to obtain help. Fortunately, people can benefit from treatment programs regardless of the initial motivation for seeking treatment.

The first phase of treatment is withdrawal from alcohol. You will likely experience physical and/or psychological effects of withdrawal, including nausea, vomiting, chills, sweating, muscle cramps and aches, sleeplessness, changes in heart rate, fever, anxiety, depression, irritability, and mood swings. Medications can be used to treat alcohol dependence, including naltrexone (Revia, Vivtrol), acamprosate (Campral), and disulfiram (Antabuse).

Behavioral therapy and counseling helps identify, avoid, and cope with situations that make you want to use alcohol. Family therapy teaches the family of the person suffering from alcoholism to provide a safe and supportive environment.

Rehabilitation programs help people who are overcoming alcoholism to regain life skills.

No single treatment approach is appropriate for every person or every addiction. Treatment for alcohol dependence should be individualized and continually assessed to ensure that it meets the changing needs of the person with alcoholism.

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All information on this site is provided "as-is" for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. You should consult with a medical professional if you have any questions about your health. The use of any information on this site is solely at your own risk.